Hemming attachment for sewing machines



NOW ,1938. M. GREENFIELD ET AL I 2,138,633

HEMMING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1958 1N VE N TOR MAX GREE/VF/El D 1WD AM M B Y AER/w Bu;

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES HEMMING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Max Greenfield, Coney Island, Brooklyn, and Abraham Blum, Bronx, N. Y.

Application May 21,

2 Claims.

This invention is directed to an attachment for sewing machines, more particularly to one capable of guiding fabric and rolling the edge thereof to form a hem.

Various devices for this purpose have been known and used for a long time. One type of device which has been considerably used in the past consisted essentially of a U-shaped plate tapering to approximately a point, and being twisted so that it acted as a guide for the fabric and, at the same time, rolled the fabric to form a finished edge which was immediately thereafter fed into the stitch-forming mechanism of a sewing machine. At a later date an improvement was introduced into the same whereby a second tapering spiral member was introduced so that the combination would with more certainty form the desired rolled edge.

However, even this device did not accomplish go the desired purpose with all certainty. In some cases where a coarse fabric was involved or one in which the edges were rough and had fringes of threads projecting therefrom, the spiral device did not completely roll the raw edge into the fold, but allowed the same to remain outside of the fold and presented unsightly edges. It was necessary by hand operation to carefully out such threads away. This operation interfered greatly with the production obtained, and necessitated additional hand labor which at the best was slow, and unless the operators were highly trained damage to the fabric in such cutting operation was likely to occur.

The present invention is intended and adapted 5 to overcome the difficulties and disadvantages inherent in prior structures for the same purpose, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a guiding and hemming device in which under all conditions and regardless of the character of the fabric being operated upon, a perfect fold and hem is obtained.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, we provide a tapered spiral guide and folding device quite similar to that previously 5 known and used. We have discovered that in the operation of such devices the fabric has a tendency at approximately the central portion of the spiral to unfold, and this tendency is not overcome by the previously known structure. We have found that if we attach to one of the spiral members an upstanding fin or rib suitably shaped, it overcomes the aforesaid tendency and insures that in all cases the fabric will be properly folded for the stitching operation.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a Ill) 1938, Serial No. 209,216

part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective View of a device made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the forward end of the device still further enlarged, some parts being broken away for clearness, and showing a fabric in position and being folded;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a piece of fabric folded by the device of the present invention and in a somewhat different manner than shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a still further modified form of fold made on the device of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 shows the type of fold formed in accordance with the prior art and'which is eliminated by the present invention.

The device comprises a plate I having a screw threaded member 2 at one end thereof adapted to be held in the work plate of a sewing machine, and it is further provided with a downwardly extending tongue 3 for holding the device against possible displacement. A plate 4 secured to one end of base I has an upwardly turned portion 5 and a substantially horizontal portion 6 substantially parallel to the base I. Said portion 6 extends into an intermediate spiral member 7 which continues in spiral shape and tapering to the end 8 thereof.

A second member which is U-shaped has substantially parallel sides 9 and It] in horizontal position held together by a connecting portion II. The member Ill is secured to portion 6 in any suitable manner as by soldering, welding, riveting or the like. Said members 10 and II merge into a spiral portion l2 which gradually tapers, as shown at l3, terminating at M. The two spiral members i and I2 interlace and provide therebetween a passage for fabric.

A member l5 secured to spiral l2 has an upturned edge or fin I6 extending close to, and to some extent overlaying, spiral l2, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the device it is set upon the bed of a sewing machine so that the tapered end 8 of the device is in proximity to the needle and the entire device is in the line of travel of the fabric. introduced between members 9 and B and fed forwardly towards the needle. The spiral arrangement causes folding of the fabric, turning the edge inwardly, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the edge E8 of the fold being usually in abut- A piece of fabric H to be folded is ment, as shown, so that no rough or raw edges extend out of the fold. The fabric is then sewed in such a position.

In some cases, due to the character of fabric or other conditions, such as the manner of feeding by the individual operator, the fold does not always take the form shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3 we have shown the edge M as having an additional fold I9 within the same. Such a fold is, of course, still more effective than that shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. a there is a somewhat different type of fold in which the edge I8 having been folded outwardly, as shown at 2B, is by the present device caused to be again folded in, as shown at 2!, and stitched in suchposition.

From this it will be seen that under all circumstances, including the personal factors involved with individual operators, the raw edge of the fabric is always turned inwardly. This is in contrast to what very often occurs with a prior art device, as is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this figure there is shown the edge 18 constituting the first fold, then the outwardly extending edge 22 going beyond the fold and being visible after the stitching operation. It is such an undesirable effect which is eliminated by the present invention.

Althoughwe have'described our invention setting forth a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and operation thereof within the scope of the present invention. For instance, instead of having two spiral members I and [2, one of said members, as for example spiral 'i, may be omitted and the present improvement placed upon the remaining structure. As illustrated in the drawing, the rib !6 is secured to the spiral l2 but other means for providing a similar structure may be used. The fin H may be made integral with spiral I2 or may be secured thereto by mechanical means.

machines adapted to form a rolled edge on fabrics comprising a base adapted to be secured to the work plate of a sewing machine in advance of the stitch forming mechanism, a guiding and hemming device having the entrance end thereof secured to said base, a spiral guide including two superposed cooperating spiral elements extending therefrom rearwardly towards said stitch forming mechanism, said guide tapering to practically a point at its free end, and a fin at one side of said spiral adapted to turn the fringe of said fabric into the folds thereof, said fin being secured to one of said spiral elements, said fin being located forwardly of said point.

2. A guiding and hemming device for sewing machines adapted to form a rolled edge on fabrics comprising a. base adapted to be secured to the work plate of a sewing machine in advance of the stitch forming mechanism, a guiding :and hemming device having the entrance end thereof secured to said base, a spiral guide extending therefrom rearwardly towards said stitch forming mechanism, said guide tapering to practically a point at its free end, and a fin at one side of said spiral approximately midway between the ends thereof adapted to turn the fringe of said fabric into the folds thereof, said fin being secured to said spiral guide, said fin being located forwardly of said point.

MAX GREENFIELD. ABRAHAM BLUM. 

